Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the  (a) make,  (b) model and  (c) place of manufacture is of the car allocated for the use of each Minister in her Department.

Cheryl Gillan: The Wales Office inherited three cars allocated to its Ministers. In London we have two Toyota Prius, manufactured in Japan, and in Cardiff we have a Jaguar manufactured in the UK. These arrangements are changing following the publication of the new ministerial code which contains changes that affect ministerial entitlement to travel by Government car. The code states that
	"the number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers will be kept to a minimum, taking into account security and other relevant considerations. Other Ministers will be entitled to use cars from the Government Car Service Pool as needed".
	Cabinet Office has provided clarification on how the code should be interpreted. The expectation is that Ministers not in the Cabinet will use the pool service and that Cabinet Ministers who have an allocated car will wish to consider how that car might be utilised by other Ministers within the Department before calls are made on the Government Car Service Pool.
	The Department for Transport and its Government Car and Despatch Agency are working with departments to effect the transition to the new arrangements.

Boats: Licensing

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the financial interests of the individuals reviewing the Boatmasters Regulations for the Marine and Coastguard Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is in the process of reviewing the results of an initial informal consultation on required changes to the Boatmasters' regulations. In addition to the written comments received, an MCA chaired group, the Boatmasters' Licences sub-group of the Domestic Passenger Ship Steering Group (DPSSG) has also commented extensively on the proposals. As this group is informal it is not necessary to review their financial interests, however I am happy to receive representation from my hon. Friend should he have any concerns in this regard.
	All comments are being actively considered by the MCA and this will result in a second informal consultation prior to a final public consultation before any amending regulations are laid.

Bus Services: Regulation

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on local authority regulation of local bus services. [R]

Norman Baker: The coalition agreement makes clear that we will encourage joint working between bus operators and local authorities in England. The Local Transport Act 2008 introduced a number of new bus regulations in England and the related guidance has been published in full. I intend to wait for the outcome of the Competition Commission inquiry into the local bus market in Great Britain outside London before deciding on the need for any further regulatory reform of bus provision.

Railways: Construction

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds in his proposals for a High Speed Rail network.

Philip Hammond: The Government's vision is of a truly national high speed rail network. Ministers are reviewing the options for linking the UK's major conurbations. No final decisions on the shape of the network will be taken until full public consultation has taken place.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Ministers in her Department have been issued with  (a) a Blackberry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary Of State and all DEFRA Ministers have been issued with a BlackBerry. None of the other devices listed in the question has been issued to DEFRA Ministers.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) make,  (b) model and  (c) place of manufacture is of the car allocated for the use of each Minister in her Department.

Richard Benyon: Under the interim arrangements inherited from Ministers in the previous Government (see my answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 15W), DEFRA temporarily retains two allocated cars. One is a Toyota Prius T Spirit; the other a Honda Civic ES Hybrid. Both are manufactured in Japan.

Noise: Pollution Control

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on tackling noise pollution; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Noise Policy Statement for England provides a wide framework aimed at enabling noise management decisions to be made that ensure noise levels do not place an unacceptable burden on society. The statement sets out a vision to
	"promote good health and a good quality of life, through the effective management of noise within the context of government policy on sustainable development."
	Additionally, the Environmental Noise Directive (END) Noise Action Plans for 23 agglomerations (large urban areas) and major roads and major railways (outside agglomerations), in England (www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/), set out the principles of managing environmental noise.
	They also describe the process to be followed by the Highways Agency, local highway authorities, and the railway industry, to determine what, if any, further noise management measures might be undertaken (in the context of Government policy on sustainable development), in areas found to most affected by environmental noise. The plans also describe the process for identifying and managing quiet areas, with the aim of preserving environmental noise quality where it is considered good.
	Local authorities also have a statutory duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to inspect their areas periodically for existing and potential statutory nuisances from noise, and to take reasonably practicable steps to investigate complaints of noise nuisance within their areas. Once satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists or may occur or recur, a local authority must issue an abatement notice requiring that the noise be ceased or abated within a specified timescale. Local authorities also have powers under the Noise Act 1996 (as amended) to take enforcement action against night noise emitted between 11pm and 7am from licensed or domestic premises that exceeds the permitted level, which may be in the form of a fixed penalty notice.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the prohibition of the trimming of beaks of laying hens to take effect; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The previous Government consulted on the proposed amendments to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, to remove the total ban on beak trimming allowing for the routine beak trimming of day old chicks intended for laying to be carried out using the infra-red technique only. It closed on the 14 April and responses are currently being considered.
	I will be discussing this matter with DEFRA officials shortly.

Defamation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will  (a) review the law on libel and  (b) lay formal proposals for reform to provide that it shall not prevent media in the UK reporting court proceedings elsewhere in the EU, in particular where this concerns UK (a) firms and (b) nationals.

Jonathan Djanogly: We are committed to reviewing the law on defamation with a view to ensuring that freedom of speech and academic debate are protected and that a fair balance is struck between freedom of expression and the protection of reputation.

Borders: Personal Records

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of adapting the e-borders system to take account of the use of non-biometric passports.

Damian Green: There are not expected to be any cost impacts to the public purse.
	There will be no need to adapt the e-Borders system which is designed to work with all types of travel documents.

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of invoices from suppliers to her Department were paid within 10 days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Nick Herbert: The Home Department has invested in process improvement through the creation of a professional Shared Service Centre and Procurement Centre of Excellence and upgraded Procure to Pay systems. The Department has put firm focus on paying its suppliers on time on receipt of a compliant invoice. It has worked closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills reporting on both its legislative obligations of 30 days as well as the 10 day commitment for all suppliers.
	The Home Department's and UKBAs performance information for paying suppliers within 10 day of receipt of a compliant invoice in March and April 2010 is:
	
		
			   Percentage w/terms-compliant invoices  Total invoices paid  Total compliant invoices paid  Compliant invoices paid within terms 
			  March 2010 
			 Home Office 92 2,819 2,166 1,998 
			 UKBA 88 5,391 3,773 3,318 
			 Total 90 8,210 5,939 5,316 
			  
			  April 2010 
			 Home Office 85 2,240 1,535 1,308 
			 UKBA 84 4,760 3,319 2,778 
			 Total 84 7,000 4,854 4,086

Departmental Redundancy Pay

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the annual cost to her Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff employed by (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies.

Nick Herbert: We do not yet know the full extent of early releases (voluntary or compulsory) that may be required in 2010-11. Furthermore, until we have clarity about the outcome of the legal challenge to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme by the Public and Commercial Services Union, we will not be able to make reliable calculations of any early release costs.

Police: Finance

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representatives she has received from  (a) the Association of Police Authorities,  (b) police authorities and  (c) organisations representing the police on the revised police funding settlement announced on 27 May 2010.

Nick Herbert: No representations have been received to date. However, a consultation period will begin once the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) Amending Report 2010-11 has been laid.

Police: Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department intends to provide to police authorities in respect of the requirement upon them to publish detailed monthly local crime statistics.

Nick Herbert: Greater transparency across Government are at the heart of our approach to accountability for public services. This is why we will make sure that, from January 2011, crime data is published at a level that allows the public to see what is happening on their streets. We will be working with police forces and authorities to ensure that this is done in a way which offers value for money for Government, the police service and the public.

Sexual Offences: Registration

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider the merits of broadening the definition of sexual offences in Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to include murder where there was clear sexual motive; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: It is essential that the police and other agencies effectively manage dangerous offenders including those convicted of sexually motivated murders once released back into the community.
	he UK has one of the most robust systems for managing sex offenders in the world. The scope of the legislative framework is regularly kept under review including the need to add new categories of offence and new types of notification requirements.
	Those receiving mandatory sentences for murder are subject to licence conditions after release from prison which could include requirements similar to those under the notification regime. In addition persons posing a risk after release can be actively managed by police and other agencies under local multi agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA).
	Where there is evidence that a person convicted of murder poses a risk of serious sexual harm to the public, in addition to the restriction of the life licence, the police can apply for a sexual offences prevention order.
	This Government are committed to ensuring that these arrangements are protecting our communities and will work with colleagues across Government to ensure that the most effective policy and legislation are in place.

Housing Benefit

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the payment of housing benefit to tenants; and what plans he has to renew the effectiveness of the scheme under which such payments are made.

Steve Webb: Housing Benefit in the private rented sector is normally paid to the customer but there are circumstances in which payment is made to the landlord.
	If the customer has rent arrears of eight weeks or more the local authority should make payments to the landlord unless it is in the customer's overriding interest not to do so.
	For customers whose benefit is assessed according to the local housing allowance rules, the local authority can make payments to the landlord if it considers the customer should be safeguarded because they are unable or unlikely to manage their rental payments.
	Other customers in the private rented sector and those who have tenancies with registered social landlords can choose to have their benefit paid to the landlord. The local authority can also decide to make payment to the landlord if they consider it to be in the customer's best interests.
	For local authority tenants Housing Benefit takes the form of a rebate against their rent account.
	A review of the first two years' operation of the local housing allowance arrangements is being undertaken to monitor the impact of the local housing allowance at a national level. The review aims to cover a range of issues including direct payment to tenants.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a Blackberry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Alistair Burt: At the current time my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has been issued with one official BlackBerry and also has use of an in-car phone.
	My hon. Friends the Under-Secretary of State (Mr Bellingham), the Minister of State (Mr Browne), the Minister for Europe (Mr Lidington) and I each have one official BlackBerry.
	My noble Friend Lord Howell does not have an official mobile telephone.
	No other mobile phones or personal digital assistants have been issued.

Trade Unions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to consult trade unions in his Department on cost reduction plans.

Michael Gove: Officials and Ministers meet regularly with the recognised trade unions to discuss a variety of issues including Machinery of Government changes. I hold meetings with the recognised trade unions on a six monthly basis and informal meetings are taking place with the Department's Head of Employee Relations and the Trade Union Side Chair.
	The trade unions met the permanent secretary on 24 May to discuss current plans and another meeting has been offered before the start of the summer recess.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a Blackberry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Bob Neill: Since the arrival of the new Government, this Department has issued a total of five BlackBerrys to the following Ministers:
	Mr Eric Pickles;
	Mr Andrew Stunell;
	Mr Bob Neill;
	Baroness Hanham; and
	Mr Grant Shapps.
	To date no other mobile device has been issued to CLG ministers.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department; and at what Civil Service pay grade in each such case.

David Mundell: In terms of Special Advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W, to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman). The Scotland Office currently has two permanent Press Office staff; one at the former Grade 7 level and one equivalent to Higher Executive Officer level.

National Grid

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the distribution losses of electricity over the National Grid in each of the last five years.

Charles Hendry: According to Ofgem, the estimated losses over the electricity distribution network for the last five years were as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2004-05 5 
			 2005-06 5.1 
			 2006-07 4.9 
			 2007-08 5.2 
			 2008-09 5.3 
		
	
	Ofgem sets an output-based incentive in order to encourage Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to manage losses both through low loss technology but also through network operations or network users as well as incentivising them to identify ways to tackle the issue of theft.
	National Grid estimates that the proportion of electricity generated lost over the GB transmission network is 2% of the total energy transferred across the network.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been recruited into the  (a) Royal Air Force,  (b) Royal Navy and  (c) Army in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) Wales in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: The numbers of personnel recruited into the armed forces in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  Royal Air Force 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 England 1,338 1,585 2,541 3,882 3,712 
			 Scotland 104 134 207 300 287 
			 Northern Ireland 22 28 36 25 30 
			 Wales 56 50 116 242 209 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Navy/Royal Marines 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 England 3,251 3,265 3,345 3,581 3,579 
			 Scotland 314 287 277 330 284 
			 Northern Ireland 204 163 180 204 206 
			 Wales 42 57 48 47 49 
			 Centrally recruited 54 42 85 98 56 
			  Notes: 1. Officers are recruited through six Regional Officer Careers Liaison Centres (OCLC) in Rosyth, Peterborough, Plymouth, London, Manchester and Belfast. Candidates will normally be sent to the OCLC nearest to them, therefore officer candidates from Wales would normally be processed through OCLC Manchester and cannot, therefore be separated from the candidates from England processed through that OCLC. 2. 'Centrally recruited' refers to specialist officer candidates who are processed centrally i.e. doctors, dentists, chaplains and QARNNS officer. 
		
	
	
		
			  Army - Other Ranks 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 England n/a 9,761 9,823 10,664 10,036 
			 Scotland n/a 1,022 754 840 1,148 
			 Northern Ireland n/a 246 256 293 316 
			 Wales n/a 944 894 917 871 
			 n/a = Not Available 
		
	
	
		
			  Army - Officers 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Total 752 707 712 713 645 
		
	
	Due to the way Army Officers are recruited, data is only available as a total and not by country.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Government grant to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence has no plans to change the long standing arrangement whereby the United Kingdom funds 78% of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission costs, which is proportionate to the number of war casualties the United Kingdom sustained during what are considered the war years. This year's United Kingdom funding is in excess of £42 million.
	The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have already outlined their requirements for their next three year financial cycle, including a number of proposals for additional projects. These will be developed and considered in conjunction with the Commission and the contributing nations, with a view to reaching an agreed budget later this year.
	We remain committed to ensuring that those who died during the two world wars, and the men and women who have died while serving in HM armed forces in subsequent years, continue to be commemorated with the same honour and dignity as hitherto and which they so richly deserve.

Departmental Manpower

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent staff at each Civil Service grade are employed in the private office of each Minister in his Department.

Liam Fox: 18 full-time equivalent civil service staff are currently employed in the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) six ministerial offices. The following shows the breakdown of each MOD civil service grade employed in the private office of each Minister.
	 Secretary of State for Defence
	SCS PB1
	B1
	B2
	C1
	D
	 Minister of State for the Armed Forces
	B2
	C1
	D
	 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for  Defence Personnel, Welfare a nd Veterans
	B2
	C2
	D
	 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology
	B2
	C1 x 2
	D
	 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for International Security Strategy
	C1
	C2
	D
	The composition of the private offices of the Under-Secretary of State and Lords spokesman on defence is yet to be finalised. There are also two military officers at OF4 rank and one at OF5 in the Ministers' private offices.

Departmental Official Cars

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the effect on his Department's expenditure on official cars for  (a) civil servants and  (b) service personnel in 2010-11 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement on Government spending on 24 May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The Government are committed to saving at least 25% of the running costs of Defence. This includes reductions in the cost of official transport and business travel.
	Total Defence expenditure in 2010-11, however, is not affected by the announcement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 May 2010, any savings made are being recycled within Defence. This will apply to any expenditure that might be saved in respect to official cars.

France

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cost to the public purse was of  (a) accommodation and  (b) travel of the Minister for Veterans' visit to France on 29 and 30 May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was in respect of officials of his Department of (i) accommodation, (ii) travel and (iii) wages;
	(2)  what the cost to the public purse was of  (a) accommodation,  (b) subsistence and  (c) wages of drivers deployed in respect of the Minister for Veterans' visit to France on the weekend of 29 May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The net additional cost to the public purse for my attendance as Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans at the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Dunkirk was approximately £810, using the most cost effective and efficient methods. This is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Cost 
			  £ 
			  Item  Minister  Officials  Total 
			 Accommodation 0 88 88 
			 Subsistence 12 48 60 
			 Drivers' wages 0 433 433 
			 Travel (ferry) 179 (1)- (2)229 
			  (fuel) 50 (1)- (2)- 
			 Total 241 569 810 
			 (1 )Included in ferry and fuel costs (2) Indicates brace

Low Flying

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of how many wind farm developments  (a) in North Carmarthenshire and  (b) nationally his Department has made an agreement with the developer providing that low-flying aircraft activity (i) may and (ii) may not take place in the vicinity of the development.

Andrew Robathan: Wind farm developers do not control the airspace within which their equipment is sited and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not have to approach them for authority to operate low flying aircraft in the vicinity of the wind farms.
	If a proposed development raises potential low flying concerns, MOD will always do everything practical to work with the developers to find mutually acceptable solutions wherever possible. That said, military aircraft do not usually operate in close proximity to wind farms and will always maintain the appropriate minimum separation distance.
	Since 2001 the Department has objected to 14 wind farm planning applications on the basis of low-flying concerns, none of which fall within North Carmarthenshire. It is not possible to identify from available records the number of cases where low-flying concerns have been overcome as a result of mitigation discussions.

Met Office

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on  (a) rail,  (b) road and  (c) air travel by staff of the Met Office in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on air travel of each class for Met Office staff in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: The Met Office is a global provider of weather and climate services with customers located across the UK and overseas. It provides vital operational support to the armed forces, as well as to emergency responders during periods of severe weather and other environmental incidents. As the UK's National Meteorological Service, the Met Office also has a number of international obligations placed upon it by the World Meteorological Organization.
	In meeting the needs of its customers during 2009-10, the Met Office spent £463,662, £786, 539 and £692,838 on rail, road and air travel respectively. Of that spent on air travel, details held centrally show that £593,879 was for economy class, £59,031 for business class and £315 for first-class travel. Where first class was flown, this was the only option available. Details of other flights are not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Military Aircraft: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the US Administration on the purchase of the RC 135 Rivet Joint aircraft.

Peter Luff: I have not met the US Administration to discuss the purchase of the Rivet Joint system. However, officials of both countries are in regular communication.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on air travel of each class by staff at the Hydrographic Office.

Andrew Robathan: Air costs information is not collected by class of travel; an analysis by class cannot therefore be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. However current United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) policy requires the use of economy class unless approved by the chief executive. During the period 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2010, a total of £807,300 was expended on air travel reflecting the international focus of UKHO business activity.

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

David Winnick: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what senior posts, at what salary bands, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has advertised in the last two months;
	(2)  what the annual salary of the Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is; and to what other remuneration he is entitled;
	(3)  what information he has received from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) on  (a) the number of days each week the Chair is contracted to the Authority,  (b) the functions the Chair undertakes,  (c) the (i) salary he receives and (ii) other remuneration he is eligible for; and whether (1) he and (2) Ministerial colleagues have discussed with the Chair of the IPSA the administrative mechanisms for processing claims of hon. Members;
	(4)  what information he has received from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority on  (a) the number of staff it employs,  (b) the number of its staff paid salaries of over £40,000 annually and  (c) the number of staff eligible for bonus payments;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with the Chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority on the  (a) arrangements and  (b) venue for hon. Members to meet senior officers of the Authority to seek advice; and how many requests the Authority has received from hon. Members for such meetings;
	(6)  what discussions he has had with the Chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority on the Authority's policy on publishing on its website the details of each claim authorised for payment to hon. Members immediately upon approval.

Mark Harper: Questions about the internal workings of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority are a matter for the Authority itself. The Deputy Prime Minister has policy responsibility for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Young People

John Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to encourage the engagement of young people in the political process.

Mark Harper: The Government believe that many of the proposals in its constitutional and political reform agenda will help to encourage involvement by young people in our democracy.
	The Electoral Commission has a statutory responsibility to run public awareness campaigns to promote voter registration and to provide information on electoral events. In pursuit of this, the Electoral Commission recently ran public awareness campaigns in the lead up to the general election to encourage people to register to vote. The campaign was targeted at groups less likely to be on the electoral register, particularly 18 to 24 year-olds and led to more than half a million electoral registration forms being downloaded from the Commission's website.
	The campaign included work on social networking websites as well as advertising on television, radio and in the press. The Electoral Commission has also funded other organisations working to increase democratic participation among young people, through its partnership grants programme. These organisations include Barnardos, the Prince's Trust and UK Youth Parliament.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanisms he plans to use to review the effectiveness of non-departmental public bodies.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Kevan Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many special advisers of each nationality are employed by Government departments;
	(2)  how many non-UK citizens are employed as special advisers by Government departments;
	(3)  what advice his Department issues to other Government department's on the employment of non-UK citizens as special advisers.

Francis Maude: The numbers of special advisers by each nationality, including non-UK citizens, employed as special advisers by Government departments is not held centrally.
	Special Advisers as temporary civil servants are bound by the civil service nationality rules. A copy of the rules can be accessed at
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/nationality.aspx

Tax Allowances: Married People

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of households in  (a) the UK and  (b) Bristol East constituency who will be eligible for the proposed transferable tax allowance for married couples.

David Gauke: The Government have not announced their plans for recognising marriage in the tax system, and therefore it is not possible to provide the estimates that you ask for. Proposals will be brought forward by the Chancellor at the appropriate time.

Further Education: Finance

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to ring-fence funding for further education.

John Hayes: The announcements on savings to reduce the fiscal deficit made by the Government on 24 May 2010 included a reduction of £200 million in the train to gain budget in 2010-11, however this resource is being reinvested in more apprenticeship places and further education capital projects. We will set out our plans for future years, including details of any ring-fences, in the forthcoming Spending Review. In general, we will aim to enable each of the sectors we fund to plan ahead with comparative certainty, although every Government needs to retain a capacity, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, to be able to respond to changing circumstances.

Higher Education: Finance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to make in year changes to his Department's budgetary provision for each university in the West Midlands in 2010-11.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announced provisional allocations to institutions for academic year 2010/11 on 18 March 2010. As in previous years, final allocations taking into account any further changes, including those resulting from the Chancellor's statement on 24 May 2010, will be announced by HEFCE in July this year.

Northwest Regional Development Agency

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he plans to decide whether to abolish the North West Regional Development Agency.

Mark Prisk: The Government will provide further detail on the future of the regional development agencies and how we propose to take forward our proposals for local enterprise partnerships in due course.

Students: Loans

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many EU nationals have claimed a maintenance loan while attending university in the UK in the last 10 years; and how many such EU nationals are in arrears in respect of their loan repayments;
	(2)  how many nationals of other EU countries attending university in England were in receipt of a maintenance loan in each of the last five years; and how many are in arrears with repayment;
	(3)  how many nationals of other European countries attending university in England and in receipt of a maintenance loan have defaulted on repayments in each of the last five years.

David Willetts: holding answer 2 June 2010
	 The information requested is available for tuition fee loans, but not available in the format requested for maintenance loans.
	European Union (EU) nationals are generally eligible for tuition fee support only, provided that they have been ordinarily resident in the European economic area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of their course. EU nationals have been eligible to apply for tuition fee loans since they were introduced in the 2006/07academic year.
	EU nationals who have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of their course may also qualify for maintenance loans. Additionally: certain EEA and Swiss migrant workers and specified family members; children of Swiss nationals; and children of Turkish workers in the UK may be eligible for the full support package provided that they satisfy specific residence conditions.
	By June 2009 there were 4,800 EU borrowers who had studied in England who had become liable to repay tuition fee loans. Of those, 600 were considered to be in arrears. The majority of this 600 are borrowers who are known to be overseas, have not provided details of their income, and have therefore been set up with repayment schedules and put into notional arrears in order that the Student Loans Company can commence tracing and possibly legal action where appropriate. This is an essential step in the overseas collection process. This figure does also include those accounts where borrowers have defaulted on their loan repayments.
	On 22 June the Student Loans Company is due to publish updated figures in Income Contingent Repayments by Repayment Cohort and Tax Year 2000/01 to 2008/09.